Speed Breakers in Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Ten-Year International Career
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is hailed as one of the best Indian captains ever. His career with the national team, however, has seen its fair share of dark days too.
That MS Dhoni is one of the finest cricket captains India has had is beyond doubt. He, however, has also had his share of ups and downs.
It is often said that captaining the Indian Cricket team is the second toughest job in India after that of the prime minister. No wonder then that every move of the Indian cricket captain is scrutinized. So, while Dhoni has received various compliments and accolades for his captaincy, he's also had to deal with criticism during his decade-long career.
 August, 2012:
He may be the man with the midas touch but Dhoni wasn't great at staying in touch with his team mates.
This trait of the skipper came to light when VVS Laxman announced his retirement and explained why he couldn't inform his captain of the decision. "I could not get through to Dhoni. He is a busy man," veteran Laxman had said during a press conference.
Laxman's comment created a furor and made headlines across the cricketing world. Dhoni, at that time, explained his reclusive nature and said that his senior teammate's words were hardly controversial. "You think it is a controversy but people who know me have always complained that I am someone who is always difficult to get hold off. I am trying to improve but I'm not really managing that," Dhoni had said.
The skipper may have had a point considering he didn't invite any of his teammates, apart from Suresh Raina, for his wedding. To lend an ear to a teammate in need, however, is an attribute that every good leader should possess.
February, 2012:
After a humiliating 4-0 Test series whitewash in Australia, Dhoni hit a new low when India struggled in the following ODI series as well. At that time it seemed like the camp was suddenly divided when Dhoni threw a bombshell suggesting that some of the senior players were slow fielders. He was talking about Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Gautam Gambhir.
Talking tough against legends like Tendulkar and Sehwag didn't go down well with many.
One of those slow fielders in Sehwag led his fielding do the talking for him and took a spectacular catch on the field. At a press conference later, Sehwag brushed aside any tiff with Dhoni. "Why should I have a chat with him? He is the captain, he is the leader. If he and the coach think they should give breaks to the top order, that's fine. I am okay with that," he had explained.
Reports of a rift in the Indian team however, circulated for a while and for the first time, it seemed like Dhoni was facing the heat from both within and outside.
June, 2009:
Dhoni and the media have had a love-hate relationship of sorts.
In 2009, during the ICC World T20 in England, it all came to a boiling point when Dhoni refused to address the press ahead of a crucial World Cup match and instead, the entire Indian team walked into the press conference to drive home the point that there was no rift in the team.
In 2013 when the Indian Premier League scandal hit Indian cricket, Dhoni refused to acknowledge the gravity of the scandal by not answering any questions related to the matter.
May, 2013:
Dhoni's name appeared in the IPL scandal on various occasions. Whether it be the pictures of his wife Sakshi sitting with Vindoo Dara Singh or his visibly close association with Chennai team principal and son-in law of N Srinivasan - Gurunath Meiyappan.
Various conflict of interest issues against the Indian skipper also came to the forefront in the process. Dhoni is an employee of Srinivasan's company India Cements and at the same time, the captain of the Indian cricket team.
Also, the fact that he is the captain of the national team and also owns a company that manages commercial interests of various cricketers is seen by many as controversial.
 The biggest blemish during Dhoni's 10 year reign is the fact that the man with the midas touch is the worst Test captain ever to travel on an Indian passport.
Outside Asia, Dhoni has lost a massive 14 out of 25 Tests. Now, with Virat Kohli being praised for his captaincy in the Adelaide Test against Australia, time is running out for Dhoni to set the record straight.